Into the first of the hand split oak from 3 years ago. I remember splitting it well. Red oak downed in hurricane earl, gave 1/2 of it to my brother as he helped cut it off my driveway. Trunk of the tree, no carpenter ants and center rot. Solid heartwood. Knotless perfect grained rounds that split like butter. I could split the whole round with the slightest of taps with the whole round still standing. Carry the whole round to the stacking pile and drop them onto the stack like dominoes. The last oak I could hand split without it killing my back and having to quit. Some of the most enjoyable splitting ever. Amazing flames and heat. I just loaded a wee bit too much in the stove. 74 upstairs, 86 downstairs. 9ºF outside. Life is good. and warm.
Hurricane Irene oak is next up. tests 15/16% with the moisture meter. That tree took me three weekends to turn into firewood and was hung up with a hemlock and a pine that had to be sacrificed to get the oak fully on the ground. Got the saw bar pinched at least three times. I'm gonna enjoy burning that stack I think.
